Television presenter Sian Welby has revealed she deliberately turned down opportunities to appear in lads' magazines throughout her career to protect what she describes as her 'classy' and 'clean' family-oriented image.
Building a Wholesome Reputation
The 39-year-old Capital Breakfast co-host explained that despite pressure from agents and publicists during the peak popularity of such publications in the 1990s and 2000s, she remained firm in her decision to avoid sexy, daring photoshoots.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Mail, Sian admitted: 'I always wanted a really clean, classy image. Even though I'm a very normal girl, I do go out and get drunk and I'm very happy to admit all of that, but there were things along the way that I did turn down, like doing lads magazines or things like that.'
She emphasised her long-term career vision, stating she wanted to maintain appeal for potential future roles in children's television or morning programming. This stance differed from other stars like Cat Deeley, Elizabeth Hurley and Louise Redknapp, who all featured in Loaded magazine before its closure.
From Shop Assistant to Household Name
Welby's journey to television prominence began unexpectedly while she was working part-time as a shop assistant for New Look. Her big break came when a starring role in an advertisement for New! Magazine caught the attention of former Channel 5 owner Richard Desmond.
In 2010, she was unveiled as the new face of Channel 5 News and subsequently became the broadcaster's lead weather presenter for six years, marking her official breakthrough in the industry.
Despite working predominantly with male colleagues throughout her career, Sian said she's always aimed to prove she can be 'one of the lads' while maintaining professional respect. 'I've always worked with boys,' she noted. 'I've always been treated as one of the boys and I think I know how to be almost respected by them.'
Balancing Motherhood and Career
The presenter, who gave birth to her daughter Ruby in June 2024, returned to work just three months postpartum, describing the period as 'a very difficult time.' As the primary earner in her relationship with fiancé Jake, a producer at Global (Capital's parent company), Sian felt compelled to resume her broadcasting duties.
'The reality is I'm the breadwinner of my relationship,' she candidly admitted. 'I don't have a nanny. I don't have my parents nearby, they're in the Midlands.'
Reflecting on her rapid return to television, Sian explained: 'I'm very realistic that I can't be sure what would happen if I took a full year off. I don't know many people in this industry that would take that much time out. You have to be very secure within your job and your role.'
She acknowledged the difficult balancing act, confessing: 'I was torn. It was a very difficult time. Deep down I would have loved to have more time off. Realistically I couldn't.'
Her career momentum has been building for fifteen years, with recent high-profile opportunities including co-presenting ITV's This Morning and her current role on Capital Breakfast alongside Jordan North and Chris Stark.
Sian was speaking while launching ITV Studios' new free-to-play quiz game app 'The Spin Off', which offers daily cash prizes and exclusive ITV show experiences, available now via App Store and Google Play.
